Originally Posted by
jppe
Good luck with your experiments. I've been down the same road as you and discovered I could ride smaller frames than what I was riding at the time. Over time I've gone to smaller frames and the comfort is measurably better for me. But my riding style is longer rides at a fairly constant pace/HR. Also, don't forget you can move your brifters closer to the bars as well if needed. However, if an 80 stem works, that's a pretty short stem and would suggest you could defintely go with a smaller frame (assuming your other body lengths are not way out of proportion). A shorter stem will still work just as well as you probably know-certainly a much cheaper option!!
So far so good - I rode my 17 mile training ride again this morning, I lowered the bars about 7mm which seems a bit better. The bike is feeling more like my other bike now. It felt very good, but I won't notice any comfort issues until I do a long ride and that won't be until this weekend- if the weather holds. I had a 50 miler on tap for Sat but the forecast is not good. Climbing and handling seem fine right now - may lower the nose of the saddle a smidge. I am traveling for a few days so I can't give a full report until this weekend.